Cooper Elementary closure challenge hearing: No ruling today

(From left, Charita Dumas, Joy Anderson, Shelly Williams, pursuing legal action against the school district; photo by Christopher Boffoli)
We’re back from the hearing at King County Superior Court on the challenge to the Seattle Public Schools closure of the Cooper Elementary “program” (the building will remain open as the new home to Pathfinder K-8, whose longtime “temporary” home at Genesee Hill will be closed). Topline: Judge Greg Canova said he would not issue a ruling today. Lawyers for both sides argued the points they’ve been making – for the closure opponents, that Cooper is a school, not a “program,” and should have received its own closure hearing; for the district, that it followed proper procedure and that this was the School Board’s decision to make, so anyone who doesn’t agree with it should vote against them in the next election rather than going to court. More details, plus photos/video, to come. 2:55 PM UPDATE: Adding some additional photos and video:

After the hearing, we spoke with some key players, first school district lawyer Shannon McMinimee:

Responding to that, Charita Dumas:

In court, dozens of people watched:

Judge Canova:

No timetable for the ruling, but court-watchers say it’s likely to come in before the month’s out.

jrepsa June 12, 2009 (4:12 pm)

Isn’t this a newly renovated building? I am at a loss as to how Seattle plans and spends our tax money….

Sasha June 12, 2009 (4:34 pm)

Plan is to use the building for a different school program, not to close it.

Sarah June 12, 2009 (9:33 pm)

I am proud you you Shelley for fighting for what is right!

bOoBaLiNg June 13, 2009 (12:56 am)

So since they are calling Cooper a “program” and not a “school”, is Cooper just going to disappear into the atmosphere? Cooper is a school, and as they said in court Cooper is the students and teachers not the building itself. If Cooper fails to exist then it IS a school closure, and Cooper should have received it own day and place to voice their concerns just like every other school on the closure list did. The Seattle School District screwed up, but of course they won’t admit it. They thought they could skip the process by calling Cooper a “Program”. Cooper is not a “Program” it is a SCHOOL! A “Program” runs “Within” a “School”! Hello! Like a reading “program”, or a PE “program”. The school district can’t get away with this, anyone in their right mind would not let them.